Lymphomas
Lymphoproliferative disease
At the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute, we have a team of experts exclusively dedicated to diagnosing, treating and managing lymphoma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
We treat the following lymphomas:
Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma including B-cell
T-cell lymphoma/non-Hodgkins lymphoma
Cutaneous lymphoma
Hodgkin’s lymphoma
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia
About lymphoma
Lymphoma is cancer that begins in cells of the immune system.
These cells normally help fight infections and are found throughout the body, particularly in the lymph nodes, spleen, blood, and bone marrow. The two major types of lymphocytes (immune system cells) are B cells and T cells. B cells normally make antibodies, and T cells kill infected cells and direct the immune system. When malignant lymphocytes accumulate in the lymph glands, the disease is referred to as lymphoma; when they are found mostly in the blood, it is called leukemia.
Lymphoma is the fifth most common cancer in the United States, and there are over 40 different types of lymphoma. The prognosis and treatment of lymphoma vary greatly and depend upon the particular type of lymphoma. Many new therapies are also under development for lymphoma, including several being tested at OHSU Knight Cancer Institute.
There are two basic categories of lymphomas: 1) Hodgkin lymphoma, which is marked by the presence of a type of cell called the Reed-Sternberg cell, and 2) non-Hodgkin lymphomas, which includes a large, diverse group of cancers of immune system cells.
Non-Hodgkin lymphomas can be further divided into cancers that have an indolent (slow-growing) course and those that have an aggressive (fast-growing) course. These subtypes behave and respond to treatment differently.
Both Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphomas can occur in children and adults, and prognosis and treatment depend on the stage and the type of cancer.
More information about lymphoma for patients and their families can be found at:
American Society of Clinical Oncology
Treatment options
Our team meets regularly to discuss and make recommendations on the best treatment approach for you, including:
- Chemotherapy
- Antibody therapy
- Radio-immunotherapy
- Bone marrow and stem cell transplant
- Radiation therapy
Our Team
At the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute, our doctors specialize in treating lymphoma – they have dedicated their careers to fighting this disease. Our lymphoma doctors are fellowship-trained and have extensive knowledge about the diagnosis, treatment and cure of lymphoma.
We strongly believe in a multidisciplinary care approach, which means you benefit from the expertise and knowledge of the entire team. The lymphoma team is comprised of medical oncologists, radiation therapists, dermatologists, pathologists, clinical pharmacists and nurses who work together to provide you with compassionate care and access to novel therapies and treatment options. Our team also includes social workers, palliative care doctors, dieticians and patient advocates as well as our OHSU community medical oncologists who have a special interest in lymphoma--all dedicated to getting you through your fight with cancer.